Chronoi Talks "Competing for primacy: Sunday, Saturday, and Thursday in the Roman Imperial and Late Antique periods"
October 21, 2019
10-12 am
Dr. Ilaria Bultrighini (UCL/EC-Chronoi)
This talk looks at how individual days of the week competed for the primacy before as well as after the emperor Constantine decreed Sunday as a day of rest across the Empire in 321 CE. Thursday (ἡμέρα Διός / dies Iovis – Zeus’ / Jupiter’s Day in the planetary seven-day week) was the day dedicated to the chief god of the Greco-Roman pantheon and, at the same time, the day associated with the astrologically favourable planet that had been named after Zeus/Jupiter. Saturday was the first day of the planetary week, dedicated to the god and planet Saturn (ἡμέρα Κρόνου / dies Saturni), and corresponded to the Jewish Sabbath in the Biblical week (σάββατον / sabbatum). Finally, Sunday was at once the day dedicated to the pagan Sun god(s) (ἡμέρα Ἡλίου / dies Solis) and the Christian Lord's Day (κυριακή / dominica).
Venue:
Einstein Center Chronoi